Comment Re:Missing the point. (Score 1) 330
Series hybrids are a terrible idea. See the BMW i3. It has worse mileage than most comparable cars. Its speed on petrol is limited, and the fuel tank is too small to be useful.
An electric drivetrain costs in the region of 30% of the energy that the engine puts in. Stuff an 8-speed modern automatic in there instead, and you keep the engine at almost the ideal RPM at all times. That drive train will have close to zero loss. Or put an extra electric motor in (two in total) and you get a variable ratio gearbox almost for free -- the Prius solution. Again, close to zero loss when running purely on petrol. Once you have a decent drivetrain, you can afford to put a slightly larger engine in and actually reach highway speeds.